Method and Apparatus Pertaining to Updating a High-Bandwidth Hardware-Based Packet-Processing Platform Local Session Context State Database

Abstract

These various embodiments comprise or are suitable for implementation by a high-bandwidth hardware-based packet-processing platform that is configured to be installed at a traffic-aggregation point for a communications network having a plurality of attachment points at its edge. These teachings provide for receiving (via, for example, a packet-receiving interface) at least substantially all data packets as pass through the traffic-aggregation point and then extracting session context state data from at least a majority of these data packets. By one approach, this session context state data comprises, at least in part, information pertaining to a location as pertains to a calling party (such as the point of network attachment for that calling party). This session context state data is then used to update a local session context state database.

1 . A method comprising: 
     at a high-bandwidth hardware-based packet-processing platform configured to be installed at a traffic-aggregation point for a communications network, which communications network has a plurality of attachment points at its edge:
 receiving via a packet-receiving interface at least substantially all data packets as pass through the traffic-aggregation point; 
 extracting session context state data from at least a majority of the data packets as pass through the traffic-aggregation point, wherein the session context state data comprises, at least in part, information pertaining to a location as pertains to a calling party; 
 using the session context state data to update a local session context state database. 
 
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein receiving via a packet-receiving interface at least substantially all data packets as pass through the traffic-aggregation point comprises receiving mirrored data packets. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the communications network comprises a wireless cellular telephony network. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein receiving via a packet-receiving interface at least substantially all data packets as pass through the traffic-aggregation point comprises receiving all data packets as pass through the traffic-aggregation point. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein extracting session context state data from at least a majority of the data packets as pass through the traffic-aggregation point comprises extracting session context state data from all of the data packets as pass through the traffic-aggregation point. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein using the session context state data to update a local session context state data base comprises updating session context state information as is stored in one of a plurality of independent local data bases. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein using the session context state data to update a local session context state data base further comprises using a stream identifier as retrieved from a given one of the data packets to identify a particular one of the plurality of independent local data bases. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein using the stream identifier to identify a particular one of the plurality of independent local data bases comprises using at least a portion of the stream identifier as a hash to access a lookup table that correlates such input to a particular one of the plurality of independent local data bases. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus configured to be installed at a traffic-aggregation point for a communications network, which communications network has a plurality of attachment points at its edge, the apparatus comprising:
 a packet-receiving interface configured to receive at least substantially all data packets as pass through the traffic-aggregation point;   a high-bandwidth hardware-based packet-processing platform configured to:
 extract session context state data from at least a majority of the data packets as pass through the traffic-aggregation point, wherein the session context state data comprises, at least in part, information pertaining to a location as pertains to a calling party; 
 use the session context state data to update a local session context state database. 
   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the traffic-aggregation point is logically proximal to an interface between the communications network and the Internet. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the communications network comprises a wireless cellular telephony network. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the high-bandwidth hardware-based packet-processing platform is configured to use the session context state data to update a local session context state data base by updating session context state information as is stored in one of a plurality of independent local data bases. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the high-bandwidth hardware-based packet-processing platform is configured to use the session context state data to update a local session context state data base by using a stream identifier as retrieved from a given one of the data packets to identify a particular one of the plurality of independent local data bases. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the high-bandwidth hardware-based packet-processing platform is configured to use the stream identifier to identify a particular one of the plurality of independent local data bases by using at least a portion of the stream identifier as a hash to access a lookup table that correlates such input to a particular one of the plurality of independent local data bases.